Investor from Virginia DC Metro Area

[Mike Kinder]

I'm Mike Kinder, and new to Bigger Pockets here as a Pro, thanks to one of Brandon's webinars. I 've been a free member for a year or so, poking around, but bottom line is, I desire to make this my primary business. 

I moved to Northern Virginia from Southern California in 87.  Don't like the cold much but love the seasons; my inner conflict I guess...  My brother is a builder in California and is also in the larger bi-folding door business just south of Irvine. 

About me... In 2004, I sold a small tech company with other partners, and jumped into building homes (a calling) as a Superintendent for Lerner (Owners of the Nationals).  As a Super, I learned pretty much every phase of building a home, mostly on the finish end, and I use that experience to assess homes for repair values, scheduling crews and eventual sale. Upon the "crash" of 08, I got lucky with my technology experience, to capture a Project Management job in The Department of Defense.  These skills helped me to  recognize other elements for managing processes.  A couple years there, I had the itch to get back to building, so I went to a local meet up for RE Investment and met a pile of investors.  Lucky me, I know how to build a house and manage crews.  Today, I do this with other investors to fix their assets for sale.

Interesting that home renovation is a much different ball game than just building new, and I love it. 

Q: How many of you can get rid of 900sf of mold and evict several families of squirrels all in one house?  LOL; one of my first flips for an investor, had me doing just that.   

I have interest in many different areas of this "game".  I think I'd like to do Infill, buy and hold, as well as flip; all dependent on the situation the seller is in, I guess.

I've experienced all of these over the last couple years, but it's time for me to stretch my wings, and see how far I can go. 

My biggest need to date is, How do you find the deals? I need a plan to execute.  I'm sure it's on here somewhere... 

I look forward to meeting everyone that crosses my path, and make new friends as well. 

Cheers!

Mike

[Upen Patel]

@Mike Kinder Welcome to BP... and a bit delayed welcome to the crazy zone we call Metro DC. :-)

Wow, a lot of experience. I am sure you will do great. I am like you, I can execute, but need help on some other aspects. Have you considered partnering with your opposite skill?

Good luck. And keep us posted.

Upen Patel, Mortgage Banker

Federal NMLS# 1374243

[Russell Brazil]

Welcome to BP @Mike Kinder. How do you find deals depends on what kinds of deals you want to do. If you are looking for buy and hold properties, I think you can find them on the MLS in our area. If you are looking for flips, then I think you need a concerted marketing campaign.

[Mark Nolan]

@Mike Kinder

Welcome to Bigger Pockets. BP is full of resources. You will find resources here from blogs to pod casts and forums. You can also send messages to members. This is one of my favorite features of Bigger Pockets especially for asking specific questions.

[Josephe Williams]

Originally posted by @Mike Kinder:

I too moved from SOCAL to NOVA...only three years ago.  The Army made me do it!  It is looking like they may be sending me back too.  Until then I am trying to get off the fence and find some rehabs and gain some experience.  I've found getting out to some of the REI type clubs and contacting people on BP can lead to the next deal.  I am looking at property in Alexandria to Vienna and Captial Heights to Oxon Hill.  If this area interests you connect up with me and I'll let you know if I find something that you might want to look at.

[Stephanie Dobbs]

Welcome to BP!!! We are so glad to have you and your experience! I'm sure you'll be an asset when it comes to questions involving building, and there is so much to learn on BP as well. I'm itching to take the leap too, as far as leaving my job, but I'm taking it one step at a time. Happy learning!